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Dan Saunders

Senior Associate

Master of Divinity, Graduate Diploma of Divinity Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Arts

  • Not-for-Profit
  • Commercial Agreements
  • Governance
  • Corporate Advisory
  • Commercial Advice
  • Regulatory Compliance

Dan has vast experience in all areas of general commercial, tax and charity law. He has a wide network of not-for-profit (NFP) sector relationships, technical legal, research and analytical skills and vast experience in establishing charities and advising on seeking endorsement as a deductible gift recipient (DGR). He has a wealth of knowledge in advising on trusts, corporate restructuring, tax concessions and endorsements, corporate and charity governance, strategy, regulation and compliance.

Dan has a deep understanding of the unique needs and strategic objectives of NFP purpose driven organisations. He has diverse experience gained from working in some of Australia's top charity law firms and has gained valuable, first-hand, charities sector experience by founding his own charity, being on the Board of numerous charities and also by working at the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).

Dan is a strategic thinker and organisational expert, he guides and advises NFP organisations, charities and philanthropists on all areas of charity establishment, constitutions, tax effective structuring, corporate restructuring, categories and applications for income tax exemption and tax deductibility (DGR). Dan helps NFPs develop best practice strategies for governance and compliance, fundraising and reporting, he can provide expert, insightful and enthusiastic legal representation to charities, NFP and corporate clients.

Experience

  • Advising clients in the not-for-profit sector on all charity law matters and ACNC compliance and regulation
  • Advising on the establishment and restructuring of foundations, charities and DGRs as companies limited by guarantee and incorporated associations, including Constitution reviews and reforms
  • Assisting clients on the establishment of Private and Public Ancillary Funds (Foundations) for philanthropic giving
  • Advising on corporate governance, governance standards, external conduct standards and Corporations Act and ACNC Act regulation and compliance
  • Providing advice regarding organisation restructuring, trust re-settlements, stamp duty and capital gains tax exemption, State Revenue Office applications for transfers from trust to beneficiaries and on change of trustees
  • Advising clients on all aspects of the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission Act (Cth), Income Tax Assessment Act (Cth), Duties Act (Vic), Corporations Act (Cth), Associations Incorporation Reform Act (Vic), Trustee Act (Vic) and other regulatory and compliance frameworks.

Leadership

  • Arrow Leadership, Leadership and Management Program
  • Regulation & compliance advisory role, Non-executive Director, Anglican Insurance and Risk Services Ltd (AIRS Ltd)
Journal Articles